Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Josaphat (1580-1623) a Polish-Lithuanian monk who served as Archeparch (Archbishop) in the Ruthenian Catholic Church. Ioann Kurntsevych was born in Volodymyr, Volhynian Voivodeship, in the Lesser Poland Province of the Polish Crown (now Ukraine). He was baptized into the Eastern Orthodox Church. As a young man, he proved to be gifted in languages; he studied Church Slavonic and memorized most of the Horologion (the Book of the Hours).
In 1604, while in his early 20s, he entered the Monastery of the Trinity (which was home to the Order of Saint Basil the Great in Vilnius) and was given the religious name Josephat. Five years later, in 1609, after having completed private studies, Josephat was ordained a priest. He was subsequently appointed hegumen (prior) of several monasteries. On 12 November 1617, he was consecrated as Bishop and later became the Archeparch of Polostok.
Throughout his time of service in Polostok, there were great temptations to sin (cf Lk 17:1). Josaphat faced the daunting task of bringing the local populace to accept union with Rome. He faced stiff opposition from some of the monks who feared the liturgical Latinization of the Byzantine Rite, yet he continued his efforts to promote peace and unity. On 12 November 1623 he was killed by angry mob in Vitebsk, Vitebsk Voivodeship, in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (now in Belarus). He was Beatified on 16 May 1643 and Canonized on 29 June 1867.
Through his intercession, may the strength of faith continue to grow, especially among the people he once was called to serve so that their faith - and ours - may continue to grow.
Have a great day.
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